Four Corners Church (West Chester OH)

We have partnered up and share a campus with an African-American church and are influencing our community. Thanks for starting the conversation…great to check out some new churches.

I believe your “growing Christian disciples bringing their friends” is a form of evangelism. As they grow more Christ-Like, their friends begin to see those changes, and want to know more. Consequently, they often attend with their friends and they, too, undergo the spiritual transformation if they become willing to accept Christ. While you may not have actively advertised and recruited; those friends of your congregation members found something they were missing.

Your verses from Acts show that the Apostles were showing their Christ-Like attitudes to the multitudes, (actions that are sadly lacking among many of our brothers and sisters in Christ) which is what brought those unsaved to hear the truth of salvation, and led them to believe and be saved.

I just reread my comment, it was a wee bit cynical. My apologies - I must have been having a bad blog day!

I would like to disagree with you on one minor point though. You said that you rarely see fellowship and discipleship lead to salvation - I disagree. I believe both are the foundation that leads to evangelism. I don’t have any stats to back it, just some verses:

Acts 2:42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:43 ¶ Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
Acts 2:44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
Acts 2:45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
Acts 2:46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
Acts 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

No mention of evangelism there, and yet the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Don’t get me wrong, evangelism is good, and you have the right to be thrilled by any churches you want.

I can honestly say my my struggle with large churches is because I pastor a growing one (although 800+ on Sunday may seem tiny to some), and so far it is a difficult transition. We grew without having one evangelistic campaign, no billboards or outreaches - just growing Christian disciples bringing there friends.

May God richly bless you and all who blog here!

Besides–we have Snyders for pretzels and UTZ for chips here..not to mention that we’re only an hour and half from Wilbur Chocolate (sigh..and that *other* chocolate company, Hershey) where you can get Wilbur Buds..

For coffee—I’ll take you to get REAL coffee, not that fake stuff from Starbucks..

I’ve been to 4 of those. good list. :)

C